Reversible appliance mounting



F. E. ABERER ET AL REVERSIBLE APPLIANCE MOUNTING April 21, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 29, 1957 lmhllu.

'INVENTORJ. Henry J Tar/9a April 21, 1959 F. E. ABERER ET- AL 2,383,138v

REVERSIBLE APPLIANCE MOUNTING Filed May 29, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

INVENTORS 6 6/1137 (1' 73/92 f E'Z'fiKEIAM/vr 4 X I By N wjg, 4

United States Patent REVERSIBLE APPLIANCE MOUNTING Frank E. Aberer, Kansas City, Kans., and Henry J. Talge, Kansas City, Mo.; said Aberer assignor to said Talge Application May 29, 1957, Serial No. 662,430

9 Claims. (Cl. 248-289) Thisinvention relates to mountings for kitchen appliances, such as can openers, and refers more particularly to such a mounting which not only permits alignment of the appliance in several alternate positions relative to the mounting but, also, permits complete reversal of the appliance on the mounting relative its normal operating position for storage thereof.

Previously, a number of mountings for kitchen appliances have been provided whereby the appliance can be positioned underneath a cabinet, or the like, that is, the mounting fixed to the underside of a substantially horizontal surface. In these prior cases, the appliance itself has been movable or pivotable relative to its mounting in various days in order to get the appliance out from under the surface for operation. However, all of these previous constructions have suffered from a number of weaknesses and/or defects.

In the first place, the conventional mountings are ordinarily' not strong enough to satisfactorily stand the stress of appliance operation after the latter has been pivoted or moved relative to the mounting to clear .it from the supporting surface. To meet this problem, some conventional mountings have added supporting structure which both complicates the device and increases its expense. Secondly, the devices are generally of relatively great expense to manufacture because of their inherent complexity. 'Iliirdly, these conventional mountings and theappliances attached thereto take up too much space underneath the mounting surface and often too greatly restrict the Work area beneath the supporting surface... Another drawback to the conventional under-cabinet mountings lies in the fact that only two positions for the appliance are provided, namely, the operative position and the storage position, thereby not making it possible to employ the mounting, under certain circumstances, where it is mountednear a corner. Excessive work and/ or manipulation is often required by the operator to get these conventional appliances into operating position and return them t storage position, as well. i i

y Therefore, an object of the present inventioni-s to provide a simple yet rugged .and positive acting mounting for positioning kitchen appliances under supporting surfaces such as storage cabinets.

"Another object of the invention is to provide such a mounting which has a multiplicity of alternate positions inwhich the kitchen appliance may be positioned for op- .Another object of the invention is to provide such an ing for kitchen appliances for undersurface mounting 4 which, in combinationwith the appliance, takes up an absolute minimum of space, thereby not hindering or hampering the work area underneath. v '1 Another object of the invention is to providea mount- Patented Apr. 21, 1959 "ice - ing for kitchen appliances having a multiplicity of mounting and operating positions wherein, despite a great number of changes in position and long use, the operating positions mountings for the kitchen appliances are vibrationless and positively locked, whereby the operation of .-the kitchen device at any of the operating positions offers no threat to the operator.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide such an undersurface kitchen appliance mounting wherein, when the kitchen appliance is moved from the storage position to an operating position, no locking of the mounting takes place until the operator has positioned the kitchen appliance in the desired position and actuated the lock, no matter how many locking :and operating positions the kitchen appliance rotates past .in reaching the desired position.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a kitchen device having a minimum number of operating parts and a minimum number of moving parts, all of the parts being readily accessible for either repair or replacement.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a kit- .chen appliance mounting which is extremely simple in construction, pleasing in appearance, occupies a minimum amount of space, yet is extremely rugged in all kinds of operation and has an extremely long operating life under the most arduous and repeated operating conditions. Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following description thereof.

. In the drawings, which form a part of the instant specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, embodiments of the invention are shown and, in the various views, like numerals are employed to indicate like parts.

mounting positioned in the appliance storage position.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view with parts cut away and in section of the inventive kitchen appliance mounting shown in the same position as Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is a front end partially sectional view of the inventive kitchen appliance mounting in the position of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the Fig. 1 appliance mounting in the position of that figure.

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the operating end of the inventive kitchen appliance mounting device showing the appliance mounting table rotated from the position of Fig. 2 in the clockwise direction.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to that of Fig. 6 but with the operating table having been moved forwardly by the action of the operating lever to free the table relative to the engaging stud.

Fig. 8 is a view taken along the lines 88 of Fig. 6 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a view taken along the lines 9--9 of Fig. 7 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 10 is a bottom view of the operating end of the kitchen appliance mounting similar to that of Fig. 7 but with the operating lever released so the operating table may move back upon the engaging stud.

Fig. 11 is :a view taken along the lines 11-11 of Fig. 10 in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 12 is a bottom view similar to that of Figs. 6 and 10 of a modification of the inventive kitchen appliance mounting.

Fig. 13 is a side view with parts in section of the rnodiii tication of the invention shown in Fig. 12.

Referring to the drawings of the first embodiment (Figs. 1-11), at is shown an elongate rectangular platform which is U-shaped in cross section and has legs 11 connected to or integral with the platform and mount= ing. flanges 12. Screws 13 engage the underside of cabinet 14 through holes formed in the mounting flanges 1'2. The'front of the cabinet is shown at 15. A slot 16 is formed adjacent the front end of the platform therein and extending'therethrough. Table 17, at least a portion of the circumference thereof being circular in outline, is rotatably and slidably mounted relative to the bottom surface of the platform by shaft 18 having enlarged head 18a,- the shaft 18 engaged to the table by a stud orrivet 19. The enlarged head 18a of the shaft has a greater outer diameter than the width of the slot 16, as may be seen in Fig. 3, and abuts the top of platform 10 sl-idably and rotatably. The smaller diameter of the shaft 18 is only slightly less than the inner width'of the slot 16 so the shaft can move only longitudinally in the slot. Formed in the circular circumference of the'table are a plurality of slots 211. Slots 20 are preferably positioned 90 displaced one from the other and the circular portion of the table preferably extends slightly over 180. The edges of the slots 20 are angled inwardly in plan view as seen in Fig. 2.

One hundred and eighty degrees opposed tothe central slot 211 is table extension plate 21 which extends substantially parallel to the platform and then is formed downwardly at right angles thereto to define primary flange 22. Fixed to flange 22 by bolts 23 is can opener receiving bracket 24. Secondary flange 25 is gripped onto primary flange 22 by inwardly punched indentations 26 (Fig. 1) and has tertiary flange 32 fixed thereto by rivets 33. Bottle opener arms 27 and 28 are formed from flange 32. Magnet 30 is fixed to the face of the secondary flange 25 by gripping arms 31. Secondary flange 25 may be pulled loose from the primary flange 22 to adjust the nut 23a on bolt 23. The peripheralportions of the horizontal flange 21 next to the circular portion of the circumference of the table 17 are turned downwardly as at 34 and 35 to define opposing angled faces for a purpose to be described.

Referring now to Fig. 3, lever 36 extends through slots 37 in the platform legs 11 and is rotatably penetrated by an extension 19a of shaft 18 and rivet 19 whereby lever 36 may move the shaft 18 forwardly and rearwardly in slot 16. Groove 1% (Figs. 8, 9 and 11) is formed in the shaft 19a adjacent the free end thereof. Two openings, 38 and 39, are formed inthe platform 10 rearwardly of the slot 16 and configured metal piece 40, having forward head or detent 41 and rear engaging and locking leg 42, is positioned so it extends through these openings. Piece 40 has lug 43 formed in the back thereof. Spring 44 engages with its rearward end lug 43 and with its forward end the groove 1% and the post 19a. Spring 44 thus urges the table rearwardly on theplatform so that shaft 18 tends to abut the rearward limit of slot 16.

The length of the slot 16 is preferably only slightly greater than the depth of the engagement of the detent or head 41 in the notches 20. The width of the front edge of the head 41 is greater than the width of the innermost portion of the notches 20 so that the head 41 will abut the side walls of the notches 20 before the back walls thereof. The length of the slots 37 must be sufficient that, by pulling one arm of the lever 36 forwardly while the other rests against the back end of the other slot 37, the operator will free the table 17 from engagement of one of its notches 20 by the detent 41'. The side top edges 41a of the detent 41 are beveled (Fig. 2).

The description of the operation of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1-11 will start from the position of Fig. 1, the same table position also being shown in" Figs; 2-5. As may be seen in Fig. 1, when the flat portion 21 of the table is extending rearwardly over' the 4. opening 38, the detent 41 is in its upward position against the urging of the spring 44 on the lug 43 which normally tends to maintain thedetent 41 sticking outwardly from the platform. The table 17 is drawn to its rearwardmost position by spring 44 with the shaft 18 abutting the rear end of the slot 16. When the table 17 is rotated 90 in either direction; as for example, in Fig. 6, a first notch 20 overlies the detent 41. However, the

length of the'slot 16 is regulated to the diameter of the table inthe area of the notches 20 and the detent 41 may not lower fully out of the opening 38 in the platform 10 because the inner portion of the notch 20 overlies a part ofthe detent and the inner portion of the slot is of less width than the width of the detent. The table 17, from this position, can be rotated around the shaft 18 as many times or as many degrees as desired (so long as it is not moved forwardly in the slot 16 against the action of spring 44) and the detent 41 will not be able to rise completely out of the opening 38 because itwillnever encounter a wide enough position in any of thenotches 20. The beveled side edges 41a of the end-ofthe detent 41 also permit the edges of the notches-to ride easily over the detent. As each of the notches 20 passesover the beveled head of the detent in rotation of table 17, there, will be a click as a portion of the detent drops partially into the notch and then is elevated by the following edge. Thus, there is a partial stop at each-90 position where there is a notch 20, but no substantial resistance to easy rotation of the table by hand.

To cause a positive engagement of the detent in one of the'n'otches 20, the table 17 must be rotated so one of the notches overlies the detent as in Fig. 6. Any one of the notches 20 will serve. The operator then merely grasps one arm of the lever 36 and pulls it forwardly to move the shaft 18 forwardly in the slot 16. When this is done, as soon as the front edges of the detent 41 pass a certain position in the notch, the detent can lower in the opening 38 and protrude as far as possible from the platform 10 under the action of spring 44. As a matter of fact, so long as any part of the circular portionof the table is over the detent, the arm 36 can lever it forward far enough to permit the detent 41 to spring out. Once this has been done, if the detent is over a notch 20, it engages the notch as the lever 36 is released. Otherwise, the detent abuts the circumference of the' circular portion of the plate when the lever 36 is released. The table 17 may be then turned to any point and the detent will eventually engage a notch.

T o disengage the fully extended detent from a notch, it is necessary that the lever 36 again be actuated forwardly to move the table 17 so it may be rotated with a notch 20 out of engagement with the detent. The table must then be rotated with the lever forward (if another notch is in the path of rotation) or, if there is not another notch in the path of rotation, the lever may be released, to where one of the inclined portions 34 or 35 begins to abut against the beveled top edge 41a of the extended detent 41. Further rotation of the table 17 will elevate the detent 41 until it passes above the top edge of the extension 21 next to the platform 10. As soon as this happens, the table 17, under action of the spring 44, slides rearwardly so the shaft 18 abuts the end of the slot 16 next to the detent opening 38. Once this motion.

has taken place, the table 17 is again in the click position and may be rotated at will without the notches 20 being engaged other than in the click position by the detent 41. This description has taken us back to the positions of Fig. 1 and Fig. 6, respectively, depending on where the table 17 is in its path of rotation.

When the extended detent 41 is fully engaged in one of the notches 20, its front edges, that is, the edges near the shaft 18, do not abut the base of the notch 20 but 7 the sides thereof and there is always a snug engagement the table 21 is the preferred operating position, but, depending upon the Circumstances, any of the other notches may define an operating or another storage position.

Referring now to the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 12 and 13, like parts in this embodiment will be numbered the same as like parts in the previous modification, but primed. Thus, at is the platform having legs 11 and mounting flanges 12'. Screws 13 fix the mounting flanges 12' to any conventional under cabinet surface. The entire underplatform construction is exactly the same as in the previous embodiment and will not be described again or numbered except insofar as is seen in the two views. Detent 41' in opening 38 in the platform is shown, as well as the rear engagement 42' of the configured piece extending through opening 39' in the platform. The piece of which 42 is the rear engagement need not be fulcrumed to the platform as in the previously described form of the invention. Only a rigidly mounted detent.41'.- is required. It might be formedintegral with the platform or rigidly fixed thereto but the illustrated embodiment is operable. Lever 36' moving in slot 37' may be seen in both views. Table 17' is, in contradistinction to thatof the other embodiment, entirely circular, and has preferably four 90 spacedapart notches 20'. The side walls of the notches 20 are preferably slanted or angled as in the previous embodiment relative to the dimensions of the detent 41'. Shaft 19' mounts the table relative the underplatform structure similar to 'that shown in Figs. 1, 3, 5, 8,19 and 11. The like structure having been described, the unique constructionlof the second embodiment .will now be described.

Table 17 is of a thickness at least sufficient to clear the summit of the beveled detent 41' when it is extending as far as possible outwardly from the platforms face. Secondary table 45 (Fig. 13) is fixed to the bottom of table 17' and shaft 19' whereby to rotate therewith. The extension 21' and fittings thereof of table 45 are exactly the same as those of the table 17 in the first embodiment. The fittings on extension 21 are numbered corresponding to the embodiment of Fig. 1.

In operation of the modification of the invention, to rotate the table 17 from the engaged position of Fig. 12, the lever 36 is moved forwardly on one or both sides so the notch 20 clears the detent 41'. The table may then be rotated 90 to engage a second notch 20' with the detent head 41. There is no means on either of the tables 17 or 45 for depressing the detent 41. Therefore there is no clicking position or sequence of turns. After each 90 rotation, the lever 36 must be actuated to free the table and move it forwardly against the tension of the spring under the platform 10 to permit the extra rotation.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all material hereinabove set forth or shown in the drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A reversible mounting comprising a platform, legs for mounting said platform on, yet spaced away from, a mounting surface to provide a free face of the platform, a table rotatably mounted on the free face of the platform, said table substantially circular in outline over at least a portion of its circumference, at least one notch formed in the edge of the circular portion of the table, notch-engaging means mounted on said platform operable to engage and disengage from said table notch, means for disengaging the notch-engaging means from said notch to permit rotation of the tableon said platform, and grasping means fixed to the face of the table away from the platform for rotating said table on said platform.

2. A reversible mounting comprising a platform, means for mounting the platform relative to a surface whereby to provide a free face thereof, a first slot in the face of the platform, a table positioned on the free face of the platform so as to be both rotatable and slidable relative thereto, said table substantially circular in outline over at least a portion of its circumference, engaging means fixed to the table to slidably fix the table to the platforms free face and extending through the slot and movable back and forth therein along one line relative to the platform, at least one notch formed in the edge of the circular portion of the table, notch engaging means extending outwardly from the free face of the platform and so positioned relative to the first slot as to be engageable with the table notch when the table engaging means is adjacent the end of the first slot nearest the notch engaging means, means for sliding said table relative to said platform to permit engagement and disengag ementof said table notch with the notch engaging means and means on said table to effect rotation thereof relative to said platform.

3. A reversible mounting as in claim 1 wherein a plurality of notches are formed in the edge of the cir-' cular portion of the table.

4. A reversible mounting as in claim 1 wherein the tablenotch edges are slanted inwardly from the edge of the table from a greater width than the notch engaging means to a lesser width than the notch engaging means.

5. A reversible mounting as in claim 1 wherein the sliding means comprises an arm fixed to the engaging means and positioned between the platform and the extremity of the means for mounting the platform relative to a surface.

6. A reversible mounting comprising a platform, means for mounting the platform relative to a surface whereby to provide a free face thereof, a first slot in and extending through the face of said platform, a primary table positioned on the free face of the platform, said primary table substantially circular in outline over at least a portion of its circumference, engaging means fixed to the primary table to slidably fix it to the platforms free face and extending through the first slot and movable back and. forth therein along one line relative to the platform, at least one notch formed in the edge of the circular portion of the primary table, notch engaging means extending above the platform a pre-determined amount not greater than the primary table thickness, and so positioned relative to said first slot as to be engageable with the notch in the primary table when the table engaging means is adjacent the end of the first slot nearest the notch engaging means, a secondary table mounted on the free face of and fixed to the primary table and covering at least a portion of the latters free face, means for sliding said primary table relative to said platform to permit engagement and disengagement of said table notch with the notch engaging means, and means on said secondary table to effect rotation thereof relative to said platform.

7. A reversible mounting comprising a platform, means for mounting the platform relative to a supporting surface whereby to provide a free face thereof, a first slot in the face of said platform, a table positioned on the free face of the platform, said table substantially circular in outline over at least a portion of its circumference, engaging means fixed to the table to slidably and rotatably fix the table to the platforms free face and extending through the first slot, and movable back and forth therein along one line relative to the platform, at least one table notch formed in the edge of the circular portion of the table, the table notch edges slanted in-' wardly' from the edgeof the table from a greater width than the notch engaging means to a lesser width than the notch engaging means, resilient notch engaging means extending upwardly from the free face of the platform engageable with the table notch, the length of the first sl'o t-"in' the plat-form at least equal to the depth of the engagement possible of the notch engaging means in the table notch, means for sliding said table relative said platform to permit engagement and disengagement of the table notch with the notch engaging means, grasping means for rotating said table relative to said platform, the upper edges of the notch engaging means beveled at the edges thereof which engage the walls of the table notch, at least one bearing portion formed on the table peripheral to the circumferential edge of the circular portionthereof, spaced from the notch and angling from a greater height next the notch to a level in line' with the BOlfOm' of the table whereby to depress the notch engaging means out of engagement with the table to permit the table to move over the engaging means, and resilient means connected to said table-engaging means assembly tending to urge it toward the limit of the first slot next the notch-engaging means.

8. A reversible mounting comprising a platform, legs for mounting said platform on, yet spaced away from, a mounting surface to provide a free face of the platform, a first slot in and extending through the platform, a'table slidably and rotatably positioned on the free face ofthe platform, said table substantially circular in outline over at least a portion of its circumference, engaging means fixedto'the tableto slidably .fix it'to-the platforms free face and extending through the first'slot and movable back and forth therein along one line relative to the platform, resilient means connected to the tableengaging means assembly tending to'ur'ge it to one limit of said first slot, atleast one notch formed in the edge of the circular portion of the table, notch engaging means extending outwardly from the free-face of the platform and so positioned relative to the first slot as to be engageable with the notch in the table when-the table-engaging means is adjacent the end of the first slot toward which the resilient means is urging: it, means for sliding said table relative to said platform to engage and disengage said table notch with the-notch engagingmeans and means on said table to efiect rotati'on thereof relative to the platform.

9. A reversible mounting as in claim 8' wherein the legs comprise flanges L shapedin cross section fixed at one end to the platform, at least one secondary slot is formed in each leg' adjacent the-said'first slot and the sliding means comprises an'arm fixed to the engaging means and positionedbetwee'n the platform and the ends of the legs and extending through each'of'said secondary slots.

References Cited in the'file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 138,126 Brush Apr. 22, 1873' 586,977 Sibley' July 27, 1897 1,619,633 Nicholson Mar. 1, 1927 2,828,098 Lehmarin Mar. 25, 1958 

